Multiple sucker-rod socket



Au'g. 30, 1927.

' A. H. NEILSON MULTIPLE sUcKER ROD SOCKET 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.31, 1925 A TTORNEY Aug. 30, 1927.

A. H. NEU-SON MULTIPLBSUCKER ROD SOCKET Aug. 30,1927. 1,640,847 A. H.NEILSON MULTIFLE SUCKER ROD SOCKET Filed Aug. 3l, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.ff/Q. 12.

Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

PATENT oFFlcE.

ALBERT H. NnILsoN, or TULSA. OKLAHOMA.

MULTIPLE'SUCKER-ROD SOCKET.

Applicationv led August 31, 1925. Serial No. 53,510.

My invention relates to sucker rod sockets andv constitutes animprovement over they sockets disclosed in my prior Letters Patent ofthe United States, No. 1,382,602 of June 21, 1921, and No. 1,433,146 ofOctober 24, 1922.

As explainedin my prior patents, a tool of this kind is employedv forthe removal of broken sucker rods from a'well andthat, as the break mayoccur in either the rod section or at the box joint, a multiple grippingsurface must be provided to accommodate the tool to the diameter of therod at the point of severance. This diameter may be that of the rodproper. as where the break is in the rod section, of a mushroomed rod,as where the break is in the rod section and -subjected to hammering, ofthe box pin when rod sections have become disconnected, or of the boxitself, when the break in the .rod is adjacent the upper end of the box.

In my earliest- Letters Patent I disclosed a single set ofl slips,havingatapered gripping surface graduated to receive eithery the 5 box or rod,but found this construction not v altogether satisfactory because of therequired length of the slips. Y

In'my second Letters Patent 1'; disclosed a reversible set of slipshaving a gripping surface at one end adapted for receiving,

the rod, and agripping surface at the opposite ends for receiving thebox. While this construction has been generally satisfactory,`

it is objectionable in that, it is not always possible to determinebeforehand just which end should be presented for the work, and itsometimes becomes necessary to remove the tool and reverse thek slips.

It is the principal object ofthe present invention to provide a toolcombiningwthe advantages of both of my prior construe tions, in that itaffords the substantially continuous gripping surface for thebox or rodfound in the first pat-ent, withouttherk excessive length of thatconstruction, Aand also ali'ords the relatively independentl box and rodgripping sections of the second i patent, without the necessity therepresent for reversal of the ltool for box or rod engagement.

ln accomplishingthese and otherobjects of the invention I have providedimproved detailsof structure, the preferred forms; of.

'primary .or cage slips.

which are illustrated' in the accompanying drawings, wherein j Fig. 1 isa perspective' `View yof my imf proved socket about to be applied to abroken sucker rod.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, longitudinal section of the socket, the partslbeing in normal posi; tion.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts?,

as` they appear when engaging a brokenl sucker rod.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing theparts as they appear when engaging asucker rod box. f

Fig. 5- is a detail, perspective view of the slip cage.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 66,'Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a det-ail, perspective view ofthev cage, with the secondaryslips removed tol Y better illustrate the throat jaws.

Fig. 8 isa detail, perspective view of one ofthe secondary slips.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, longitudinal section ofa modified form of socket.I

Fig. 10 is a detail, perspective viewyof tllie modified form of cage andsecondary s ips. l v

Fig. 11 `is a transverse section on the linenl 11-11, Figio.

Fig. 12 is a detail, perspective view of' one of the 'secondary slips.-Fig. 13 is a similar viewv of vone of theL l,Referringcmore in ings z-yl. 1 designates a well hole; 2 the casing; 3;

detail -to the draw.-

the tubing and 4 a sucker rod-all of or-Y dinary construction, thesucker Vrod being formed in sections, each section having a head 5(Fig.` 4) and pin V6 at one end and a box'7q(Fi`g. 3) for receiving thepin of.y an adjacent section at the other end.

As wells in which vmy socket-fis adapted:y

for vuse range from a few hundred to several thousand feet in depth, it1s necessary to4 employ la number'of sections' of sucker rod, and itvnot rinfrequently happens 'that the rods break, dueto some defect inmatey rial or unusual strain, or become separated at a joint. It then.becomes necessary-to remove the retained upper sections ofthe rodl andthen fish for the lower portion with. a.

VYillustrated in. F ig. 1.

tool capable of first finding the rod and then gripping it so that thelower portion may be removed. If the break isin the body of the rod andthe broken end has not been hammered, a cross section of the diameter ofthe rod is presented to the gripping tool. If the end of the rod hasbeen inushroomed by hammering larger diameter is presented to the tool,and if the break is at the joint or the severance due to disconnectionVof the box and pin,l then a still larger diameter is presented for thegripping tool.

This condition 'requires that the tool be graduated in order that it mayadapt itself to Whichever condition is encountered, it beingvimpossibleto foretell the condition because of the depth of the rod in the well.

The socket which l have designed to meet these conditions consists of atubular barrel 8 having an interiorly threaded upper end 9 whereby it isattached to a sleeve 10 having an interior bore or bearing'll ofsubstantial diameter.

' Extending through the bore ll is a bolt l2 'having a hexagonal boss i3at its upper end provided with a curved lower surface bearing` in aconcave seat v14 at the top of the sleeve 10 and provided witha screwshank 15 at its lower end.

'sucker rod joint and whereby the socket may be suspended from a suckerrod, as

YThe barrel 8 is only of slightly less diameter than the tube 3 withinwhich itk works, and Vis provided at its lower end with a bevel face 18so that the barrel may move freely in the tube, but when lowered to thebroken rod, may iind the rod irrespective of whether the rod is standingstraight or lying against the tube, and the rodbe directed to theinterior of the barrel. The barrel 8V is of substantial thickness at itslower end but e3:-

i` pands gradually for about'six inches to form a vdownwardlyconstricted bore 19 therein.

Slidably mounted within the bore 19 isa cage/20,` comprisinglongitudinally split head 21y formingindividual slip members 22preferably three in number, havingarms 28 at their upper ends connectedat their ends opposite the slip members by aring` 2 4. he cagexis ofsuch diameter' as totit snugly within the barrel with the slipkmeinber's-compressed, the lower edges 25 of the slip members beingvbevelled to form .sub-v stantially a continuation of the bevelled edge'1,8 of the barrel 8, so that when the socket is lowered over af brokensucker rod, `the latter will be directed to the interior ofthe cage. .vi c The cage 21 has an outer surface tapered oppositely to the bore 19of the barrel 8, so that it will fit the tapered bore snugly when innormal position therein,and so that the slip members may be expandedunder tension ot' the aiins 29, or pressure from the rod, as willpresently be described, when l 2T of substantially less dian'iete'r than1 the.

socket 26 and within Ywhich a'mushro'omed rod may be received andgripped, the throat also tapering toward a restrictednpper end, as inthe case of the socket 26.

rlhe lsocket 26 and the throat 27 are ribbed to form gripping surfaces,the ribs being down-.cut to form ratchet faces` whichV may be loweredover a rod, pin or box, but which will tend to grip the same whenthesocket is lifted, the gripping face on the throat being extendedV ashort distance up 'along the arms 23 of the cage to provide a moreextended gripping surface.` i

Located within the cage are secondary slips 29, also preferably three innumber, and each having a longitudinal groove 30 in its outer face'seating corresponding arm 23, the arms 23 being bevelled to form adownwardly-constri-cted, skeletonfbore, and the bases of the grooves 30being reversely tapered to permit the slipsto expand when` movedupwardly within the cage. rlhe inner facesv of the slips are tapered toform' an upwardly-constricted bore, and are provided with down-cut teethcorresponding to those of the primary socket 26 and vthroat 27, thedimensions of the throat 27 and secondary slip bore 31 being 'such as toprovide a continuous,graduated bore when theV parts are in normaliliiosition, there 'being an offset between the bore of the' throat andthat ot the primar7 socket,1for the r`reason that the primary socketisintended to take overa sucker rod, pin or box, whereas' the throatSuspended Vfrom `the ring 24 b v a flange 32 is a Vj'a'liinger 38, thelowerend of which terminates adjacent the topfof 'thesecondary slipsocket, and the upper end of which pro-A jects above the flange to forniay seat 34.

Seating on and rising fromv the scat within the barrel' 8 is a Ycoilspring 35', andv interposed betweenv the upper end of the spring andthelower end of the castellated nut 16 is washer 36 forming a stop againstwhich the spring` is compressed whenY the plunger 33Mis moved upward-ly,either from e cage proper or from' the 'secondary'.slip

socket, as will presently beY described. M s

and secondary socket are V,intended to take over a straightorinushroomed rod.'

no y

iso

the cage.

37 designates' drain holes in the barrel preferably"adjacentits upperend.

The bolt and sleeve connection at the top ofv the` socket affords aVswivel which will permit the socket. and suspended portion of the suckerrod to turn and prevent twisting land possibly. further breakage duringthe pulling of the rod.

In usingtlie device and first assuming that the rod is broken at thejoint, or' that the joint has become separated so that the part exposedto the fishing tool is of the thickness of the box or pin. the upper endofthe broken rod is first removed from the tubeand. then the socket letydown by means of a Sucker rod. Reaching the box or pin the bevelled endof the socket directs `the same into thebarrel and into the primarysocket QG'fOrmed by the slips that are integral with lVhen the pin orbox contacts with the teeth 26Yit slides over the teeth for a distanceuntil the constriction in the socketI bars the pin or box, when the cageis held while the barrel moves over it, the tapered contact of thebarrel and cage permitting the cage, and' particularly7 the slips 22, toexpandy to further' seat the pin or box, the sliding movement of thebarrel on the cage beingv cushioned by the spring 35 which is compressedbetween the washer 36 and the plunger seat 34 as the barrelmovesdownwardly, the plunger in turn being held by the ring 24 of thecage. The springhaving reached the limit ofits compression, the pin orbox isforcedinto vthe'cage slips and when the socket is lifted'the'teeth hold to the pin or box and as the Constricted barrel is liftedalong the cage the bevelled' fa-ce of the barrel and cage tend tocompress the slips against the pin or boxl and tightly grip the same sothat the rod `is lifted out of the well with the socket.

Assuming next that the break is a clean one in a rod section, then thesocket, being lowered as before described, passes over theV end of therodv until constriction of the secondary slips causes them to engage therod, and the slips are pushed upwardly and expanded because of theirtapered conta-ct with the cage arms to provide a better gripy on the rodwhen travel ofthe socket is reversed.

In this case the spring is again compressed between the washer 36 andthe plunger seat 34, but pressure of the plunger is against the upperends of the secondary slips, t-he- 'ca-ge moving downwardly withthebarrel.

upper end presents a gripping surface too small to libe engagedby theprimary1 slips landV too larger fr the secondary slips, it is gripped inthethroat 27, this operationbeingthe same as described inf connectionwith the pin or box break.

In Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive I have shown a modified form of cage whereinthe secondary` slips are unconfined except bythe compression spring.In-this form the cage 3.7 is ofV solid construction, splitlongitudinally to rforni the individual slips 38 and the upper confiningportions 39, the slips being held together by a. split spring band et()seatinuf; in an ai'inular groove eljat the center or thevcage. Theslips38 have the upwardly-eonstrieted tooth bore ofthe preferredforn'i lbutthelthroat ofthe cage is not adapted Ior grippinol but merely for thepassage of a rod therethrough. The upper slips e2 have tapered seat onthe solid upper face oit' the cage and have an upwardly-constrietedtoothed bore, as in the preferred form, andare held in assembledrelation by a split spring band t3 seating inthe annulargroove del.Operation of the modified form of socket is substantially similar tothat of the preferred form, any slight difference being readily apparentfrom observation of the dra ings, and the operationwill, therefore, notbe specifically described. y

' lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a socketof the character described,

an interiorly-taperedy barrel, an expansible set of exteriorly-taperedprimary slips within the barrel,v having interiorly tap-ered ex-`tensions, and an'expansible set of externallytapered, secondaryslipswithiirthe extensionsofy the primary slips.

A 2. In a. socket of the character described, a primary of relativelyexpansible slips movable longitudinally within the barrel, and asecondary set of relatively expansible slips movable longitudinallywithin the primary set of slips, the primary slips having downwardlyrestrictive relation with the barrel and theV secondary slips havingcorresponding relation withtlie primary slips toV effect selectivegripping relation of the slips with contained stationary objects whenthe socket is raised along the objects following a preliminarygrippingcontact of the slips with the objects.

3. Ina socket of the cl'iaratter described, an interiorly-taperedbarrel, an expansible set of exteriorly tapered primary slips within thebarrel, having Yinteriorly tapered extensions, an expansible set ofexternallytapered. seeondaryslips within the extensions of the primaryslips, and means yieldingly resisting v longitudinal movement ofi eitherset of Islip-s.

a. In a socket of the character described, an interiorly-tapered barrel,an expansible set of exteriorly tapered primary slips with- `tensions,an expr in the barrel, having interiorly taperedextensions, anexpansible set of externallytapered secondary slips within theextensions of the primary slips, a plunger operable under thrust fromeither set of slips, and a spring yieldingly restraining thrust.movement of the plunger.

5. lnv a socket oij' the character described, an vinterierly-taperedbarrel, an expansible set of exteriorly-tapered prin'iary slips withinthe barrel, having interiorly tapered exihle set of exteriorlytapercsecondary )lips within the extensions or the primary slips, a plungersuspended from the said extensions and engageable by lsaid secondaryslips, and a spring confined within the barrel in restraining relationto the plunger.

`6. ln a socket or' the character described, a primary set of slipscon'iprising separate gripping jaws and extensions on 4said jawsconnected remote -from the jaws to form a cage and permit the jaws tospread, and a secondary set or slips confined within the cage.

7. In a socket oit the character described,

a primary set of slips ccmprhiing separate primary set of slipscomprising separate gripping jaws and extensions on said jaws connectedremote t'rom the jaws to Vform a cage and permit the jaws to spread, anda secondary set ot slips confined within the cage and slidablelongitudinally on said extensions, the extensions being tapered to per--mit the slips to spread.

9. ln a socket of the character described, a primary set of slips,having tapered, jaw- :taced inner surfaces iorniing anupwardlyconstricted channel having tapered, jawraced extensionsconnected remote from the slipsto t n a cage, a secondary set or slipsconlined w in the cage and having tapered, jaw-laced inner sui-tacos:forming vupwardly-constricted channel., l graduated relative to thechannel in the primary set of slips.

10. ln a socket oit the character described, a primary set of slips,jaw-'faced innell surlaces forming an uj vardly-constricted enannelandhaving tapered, j aw-ifaced connected remote from the slips toriorm acage, secondary set or slips eonlined within the cage and havingtapered, jaw-faced inner surfaces forming an `upwardly-constrictedchannel, graduated relative to the extensionsV channel in the primaryset of slips, the meeting faces of said extensions and said secondaryslips being tapered oppositely to permit the slips to expand when movedlongitudinally within the cage. Y l

11. In a socket of the character described,

a Pl'ml'y Seil Of slips having tapered, jawf fa-ced inner surfacesforming an upwardlyconstricted channel and having tapered, jawtacedinner extensions connected remote from the slips to form a cage, asecondary set of slips conncd within the cageand having tapered,jaw-raced inner surfaces forming an upwaidlyeconstrioted channel,graduated relative to thechannel in the primary'set :of slips, andsingle means tor resisting longitudinal movement of eitherset oi'slips.-` n

i2. A. socket oi' the character described, con'iprising a barrel havingatapered inner wall, a cage slidable in the barrel comprising alongitudinally split head and arms on the head members connected to forma cage, the head members having tapered and toothed inner walls, slipsslidable in the cage, the

slips and cage arms being` reversel'y tapered to contract the slips orpermit them vto expand, the slips having tapered and toothed innerwalls, a plunger' in said cage engageable by the cage or by the. slips,a head for the barrel, and a cushionk interposed between the plunger andsaid head. f

13. In a socket of the character described, a barrel, a cage slidablewithin the barrel, comprising a set ot primary slips, a-set of secondaryslipsslidable within the cage, a v5 plunger slidable within the cageoperable by the cage or by the secondary slips, a head on said barrel,and a cushion between the `head and plunger. I

14. In a socket of the character described, a barrel, a cage kslidablewithin the barrel, comprising a set ofprimary slips, a Vset of secondaryslips slidable within the cage, a plunger slidable within the cagehaving a flange overlying the top of the cage, a head on the barrel, anda coil spring seatingY on vsaid flange about the plunger and retained bysaid head. l Y

15. In a socket of the character described, a barrel, a head in thebarrel, bolt rotatable in the head having a head seated on the barrelhead and provided with a pin, and having a nut engaging the other end oftheQ lbarrel head, a cage in the barrel comprising a primary set olfslips, a'secondary set oat slips within the cage, a plunger in the cagooperable by either the canje or the secoi'idary slips, and aspringlinterposed between the plunger and said nut.. i

In testimony whereoii'l ai'lixmy signature.

ALBERT n; Nnirison.

lll!

